Skip to main content

View Post [edit]

Poster: William Tell Date: Dec 11, 2017 1:56pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Dave's Picks

I was struck more by the timing of the shows, which I have inserted below from your listing:

12-12-69
12-11-69 (bonus disc)
12-20-69
12-21-69 (bonus disc)

2-2-70
1-23-70
1-24-70 (bonus tracks)

10-22-71
10-21-71 (bonus tracks-excellent)
12-7-71
12-6-71 (bonus disc)

3-26-72
3-21+27-72 (bonus disc)
8-25-72
11-15-72 (bonus tracks-excellent)

11-11-73
2-24-73 (top 3 pick)
3-28-73 (top 3 pick)
4-2-73

5-14-74
7-31-74
7-29-74 (bonus disc-excellent)
7-19-74

9-24-76
7-17-76
7-18-76 (bonus disc)
7-16-76 (bonus tracks)

5-25-77
11-4-77
11-6-77

1-22-78
4-24-78
4-22-78

11-30-80

12-9-81 (most puzzling)

I think it is safe to say there is an early era bias, but like you, it appears Dave thinks a great deal of 72-77, which is fine...I do note the lack of 68.

;(

Reply [edit]

Poster: jerlouvis Date: Dec 11, 2017 2:58pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Dave's Picks

Thankfully there is a clear early era bias.As for the lack of 68 material I think since this is a one show/3 disc release format,there is problem with a lack of 68 material to fit that bill since the shows were shorter and there is a lack of 68 material in the vault in general.I am firmly rooted in the 68-74 era as the bands high point,but do like some of the catalog through 85 and think Dave has done a decent job picking the post-hiatus stuff.That being said I would rather he never went past 74.

Reply [edit]

Poster: billydlions Date: Dec 11, 2017 3:31pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Dave's Picks

I mostly agree with your ratings with a few exceptions. Why no love for 5-25-77? I'd put that in the very good category. 1-22-78 is probably may favorite Dave's Pick, so I would bump that up. The matrix experiment with 11-30-80 was successful which makes me wonder why we don't have any more early 80s. How about 3-9-81 or 8-28-81 (way better than 12-9-81)?

My only other disagreement is with 10-21/22-71. I've already sold that on eBay as it was never going to get played again. Also I'm not sure 7/19 is better than 7/31? Tough choice.

Reply [edit]

Poster: jerlouvis Date: Dec 11, 2017 5:11pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Dave's Picks

I didn't find much of the 5-25-77 show to be all that special.I know people love the Scarlet -> Fire which I thought was just okay.It has a smokin' Promised Land and good versions of Half-Step,Peggy-O,Cassidy and Loser.There must be a reason for the lack of 80's stuff because it is clear that they are staying mostly in the 70's.The 12-9-81 show did not have one outstanding performance on it.Good versions of China -> Rider,Estimated and Stella don't warrant a release in my mind. The 71 Chicago show is funny in that the bonus disc from 10/21 made the release.I thought it had extraordinary versions of Cumberland,Big R.R.,Mexicali and Dark Star.I found Keith's first Dark Star endlessly interesting.They also did 6 other songs well on that bonus disc.The whole 10/22 show only yielded 3 good performances of Bertha,Sugaree and The Other One.What's funny is I'm not that big a 71 fan. Volume 2 which was the 7-31-74 release also had a bonus disc which had a WRS and Other One from a different show(7-29-74 Landover) which I thought was the best material on the release.The WRS is probably a top 5 all-timer and the Other One is excellent also.The Hartford show was kind of flat for me with the highlight being a great To Lay Me Down with good versions Me and My,Brown-Eyed and Truckin'.Whereas the Fresno 7-19-74 show had a hot Deal and El Paso and then a really good 74 style PITB before the big chunk with a nice WRS ->Spanish jam -> Eyes.They really got going on all three parts of that chunk. The bottom line is this stuff is all very subjective and we like what we like so we all can be right.
This post was modified by jerlouvis on 2017-12-12 01:11:51

Reply [edit]

Poster: billydlions Date: Dec 11, 2017 6:02pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Dave's Picks

I see your point about 5-25. It's not as good as some of the other shows from May. The sound is fantastic so that may be the reason I liked it so much. I like the 80's more than you which surprised me that you rated those 69 and 70 shows so low (and 11-30-80 so high) but I'm in complete agreement that they are just average shows. Unfortunately I compare everything from 1969 to 2-28 and most shows fall short. 1971 has a few shows that I like a lot but the year as a whole is kind of flat, especially compared to 1972.

I cant wait to hear what the next pick is as Dave said it will be a great show that is not circulating in good quality which leads me to believe it will be another early 70s show.

Reply [edit]

Poster: jerlouvis Date: Dec 12, 2017 8:25am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Dave's Picks

I'm also very curious as to what the next pick is.

Reply [edit]

Poster: Reade Date: Dec 19, 2017 8:24am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Dave's Picks

Since you mentioned this, what *are* your top-five WRS's?

Reply [edit]

Poster: jerlouvis Date: Dec 19, 2017 1:44pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Dave's Picks

My top five's are generally sort of interchangeable,but in this case I would have to say that they have never played a better version (maybe equaled) than the aforementioned 7-29-74 Landover version.I picked three each from each favorite year.In chronological order.

The 73 versions with the acoustic piano have a very different feel to them.

9-8-73 Nassau Coliseum-great Bobby rhythm playing
10-30-73 St. Louis Mo.
11/10/73 Winterland

Since you're a fan of the horn shows I would guess you enjoy the four excellent versions they did over that run of shows.Fierro plays flute on the WRS portion on one version and it really takes it to another level.

The 74 versions feature some killer Fender Rhodes playing from Keith along with his usual acoustic piano mastery.

5-21-74 Seattle Wa.
7-19-74 Fresno Ca.
7-29-74 Landover Md.

Some post-hiatus versions.While not on the same level they played some good ones.

9-28-76 Syracuse NY
10-15-77 Dallas TX.
1-11-78 LA Ca.
6-20-80 Anchorage Ak.
12-5-81 Indianapolis In.
9-11-82 W. Palm Beach Fl.
3-25-83 Tempe Az.
7-6-84 E. Troy Wi.
11-16-85 Long Beach CA.